Zimmerit

Contents

Development History

In November 1942, Germany began issuing the Hafthohlladung anti-tank grenade. The grenade was
attached to a tank with magnets by infantry, and used a shaped charge to defeat the armor.

Expecting that the Allies would copy the concept, a countermeasure was developed. The company Zimmer AG invented
a non-magnetic material called Zimmerit, which could be applied to German tanks to prevent magnets from sticking to
them. The Zimmerit consisted of:

40% barium sulphate (BaSO4)

Made from barium treated with sulpheric acid H2SO4, and is water insoluble.

On 9 September 1944, it was ordered that Zimmerit application should cease immediately. This order was given due
to rumors that shells could set the Zimmerit on fire, destroying the tank. While later investigation revealed that
the rumors were false, Zimmerit application was never restarted, likely because the Allies had not made their own
versions of the magnetic mines that Zimmerit was intended to defeat.

Application

In an order dated 29 December 1943, Zimmerit was to be applied to the following vehicles:

Zimmerit was usually applied at the factories. An even layer was applied to the armor plates, which was left to
dry for four hours. After drying, it was hardened with a blow torch, and shaped into the final pattern using
spatulas or stamps.

Zimmerit was applied to all vertical and sloped surfaces, except where it would impede normal operation (such as
hinges, automotive parts, and tracks), or where magnetic mines would not seriously damage the vehicle (such as
lamps, tools, and side skirts). It was, however, applied on surfaces behind side skirts. It was also sometimes
applied to turrets, even though magnetic mines could not easily be attached to them by infantry. There are also a
few examples of Zimmerit which has been applied to side skirts.

Zimmerit was generally only applied to other vehicles than tanks and tank destroyers. Soft-skinned vehicles,
self-propelled artillery, etc. did not receive Zimmerit. There is one example of an Sd Kfz 251/1
Ausf. D with Zimmerit, which was most likely been applied in the field.

Patterns

The table below illustrated observed patterns used on different vehicles. Note, that some patterns were very
rare on some vehicles, while common on other. Note that the patterns are stylized, and not to scale.